I need help supervising!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 3, 2017

I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for. Could you be more specific?

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2017

Commit to prioritizing your staff over the golden survey/over *unreasonable* customer service requests.

cleback · Feb 3, 2017

Get to know your employees and find out what motivates them? Are they friends outside of work? ...maybe support holiday parties. Do they prioritize time away? ....Support self scheduling? I dont know...There are lots of ways to think of your question.

roser13, ASN, RN · Feb 3, 2017

"Love" and "fun" aren't necessarily adjectives that most folks would apply to work and to co-workers. In fact, some would say that having those 2 goals is somewhat inappropriate for a workplace.

Are you a new supervisor?

BeckyESRN · Feb 3, 2017

I don't think "love" and "fun" are priorities when looking at place of employment. I want some where that I feel valued, supported, and appreciated. Listen to your employees, take their feedback seriously, make attempts to problem solve with them, support them in ways that you are able(get a pt a drink instead of finding the assigned nurse), have their backs when it comes to difficult patient/family/doctor situations, tell them that you appreciate all that they do and mean it!

The times that I felt appreciated and valued at the hospital were when my manager stood up to an ER nurse that was being nasty and trying to cause problems(mostly to deflect from the fact that she gave a woefully inadequate report and transported the patient before even calling report) and the days that she would take a moment to say "I know today was really rough, but thank you for working so hard to keep things moving". It didn't happen often, but it can reframe your day from hell into something better when you know that you're important and valued!

bwilsonrn · Feb 4, 2017

I am a floor nurse as well as one of the Supers. I do not really have a problem standing up for my people or giving them constant affirmation. We have a great DON and ADON who do most of the hard work. My job is a lot being the cheerleader - doing fun activities and providing tangible praise. I am trying to come up with activities for Nurses Week and cannot find a good site for ideas. I am a new supervisor and would like to find some kind of training. As I said, my supervisors handle the real work. They allow me to spend time on praise, affirmation and organization. I would appreciate any help. Thanks!

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Feb 5, 2017

The fun stuff is great and all but not what people are really looking for in a supervisor. I want support from them when I need it and space if I am not asking for help-no micromanaging. I want to know I am heard and that those in management take us seriously, not just fun stuff.

allnurses Guide · Feb 5, 2017

It sounds kind of weird to me, to expect someone who has a

busy enough job being both a floor nurse and a Supervisor,

to also come up with all of this "fun stuff" that I guess they

are expecting you to come up with. Everywhere else I've worked,

it was up to the higher admins, really, to come up with

that stuff. And HR, I guess.

Whatever though.... maybe come up with some sort of,

oh I don't know... system for giving each other "Kudos".

Little cards that you can fill out and give to someone else,

and that person can trade all of their "Kudos" in at the

end of the month for some sort of prize/reward. I've

worked in a couple of places with such a system. It's

kinda fun. :)

Paws2people · Feb 5, 2017

What I want/need from management is for them to jump in and get their hands' dirty when we need help. When the unit is short they could pitch in by taking a group, or advocate for more staff. I'd love for them to reprimand people when appropriate.

This in itself earns respect and "love."

bwilsonrn · Feb 5, 2017

Thank you. I've read about the Kudo cards before and will try them.

bwilsonrn · Feb 5, 2017

And I do jump in and help. As I said I work the floor 1-2 days a week and I understand how to be helpful. I appreciate all the serious answers- I realize I am talking to intelligent, professional people. My need is to interact with our staff in tangible ways. Thank you all.